中部第 73 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Longer Discourse With Vacchagotta · 1/1

Middle Discourses 73Middle Discourses 73The Longer Discourse With VacchagottaThe Longer Discourse With Vacchagotta

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.Then the wanderer Vacchagotta went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.Then the wanderer Vacchagotta went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,“For a long time I have had discussions with the worthy Gotama.“For a long time I have had discussions with the worthy Gotama.Please teach me in brief what is skillful and what is unskillful.”Please teach me in brief what is skillful and what is unskillful.”

“Vaccha, I can teach you what is skillful and what is unskillful in brief or in detail.“Vaccha, I can teach you what is skillful and what is unskillful in brief or in detail.Still, let me do so in brief.Still, let me do so in brief.Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, worthy sir,” Vaccha replied.“Yes, worthy sir,” Vaccha replied.The Buddha said this:The Buddha said this:“Greed is unskillful, contentment is skillful.“Greed is unskillful, contentment is skillful.

Hate is unskillful, love is skillful.Hate is unskillful, love is skillful.Delusion is unskillful, understanding is skillful.Delusion is unskillful, understanding is skillful.So there are these three unskillful things and three that are skillful.So there are these three unskillful things and three that are skillful.

Killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct; speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical; covetousness, ill will, and wrong view: these things are unskillful.Killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct; speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical; covetousness, ill will, and wrong view: these things are unskillful.Refraining from killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct; refraining from speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; contentment, good will, and right view: these things are skillful.Refraining from killing living creatures, stealing, and sexual misconduct; refraining from speech that’s false, divisive, harsh, or nonsensical; contentment, good will, and right view: these things are skillful.

So there are these ten unskillful things and ten that are skillful.So there are these ten unskillful things and ten that are skillful.When a mendicant has given up craving so it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future, that mendicant is perfected. They’ve ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and are rightly freed through enlightenment.”When a mendicant has given up craving so it is cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future, that mendicant is perfected. They’ve ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and are rightly freed through enlightenment.”

“Leaving aside the worthy Gotama,“Leaving aside the worthy Gotama,is there even a single monk disciple of Worthy Gotama who has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements?”is there even a single monk disciple of Worthy Gotama who has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements?”“There are not just one hundred such monks who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“There are not just one hundred such monks who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Leaving aside the worthy Gotama and the monks,“Leaving aside the worthy Gotama and the monks,is there even a single nun disciple of Worthy Gotama who has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements?”is there even a single nun disciple of Worthy Gotama who has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and lives having realized it with their own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements?”“There are not just one hundred such nuns who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“There are not just one hundred such nuns who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Leaving aside the worthy Gotama, the monks, and the nuns,“Leaving aside the worthy Gotama, the monks, and the nuns,is there even a single layman disciple of Worthy Gotama—white-clothed and chaste—who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously, to be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world?”is there even a single layman disciple of Worthy Gotama—white-clothed and chaste—who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously, to be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world?”“There are not just one hundred such chaste laymen who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“There are not just one hundred such chaste laymen who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”

“Leaving aside Worthy Gotama, the monks, the nuns, and the chaste laymen,“Leaving aside Worthy Gotama, the monks, the nuns, and the chaste laymen,is there even a single layman disciple of the worthy Gotama—white-clothed, enjoying sensual pleasures, following instructions, and responding to advice—who has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and lives self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instruction?”is there even a single layman disciple of the worthy Gotama—white-clothed, enjoying sensual pleasures, following instructions, and responding to advice—who has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and lives self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instruction?”

“There are not just one hundred such laymen enjoying sensual pleasures who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“There are not just one hundred such laymen enjoying sensual pleasures who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“Leaving aside Worthy Gotama, the monks, the nuns, the chaste laymen, and the laymen enjoying sensual pleasures,“Leaving aside Worthy Gotama, the monks, the nuns, the chaste laymen, and the laymen enjoying sensual pleasures,is there even a single laywoman disciple of Worthy Gotama—white-clothed and chaste—who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously, to be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world?”is there even a single laywoman disciple of Worthy Gotama—white-clothed and chaste—who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, is reborn spontaneously, to be extinguished there, not liable to return from that world?”

“There are not just one hundred such chaste laywomen who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“There are not just one hundred such chaste laywomen who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“Leaving aside Worthy Gotama, the monks, the nuns, the chaste laymen, the laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, and the chaste laywomen,“Leaving aside Worthy Gotama, the monks, the nuns, the chaste laymen, the laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, and the chaste laywomen,is there even a single laywoman disciple of the worthy Gotama—white-clothed, enjoying sensual pleasures, following instructions, and responding to advice—who has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and lives self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instruction?”is there even a single laywoman disciple of the worthy Gotama—white-clothed, enjoying sensual pleasures, following instructions, and responding to advice—who has gone beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and lives self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instruction?”

“There are not just one hundred such laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“There are not just one hundred such laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures who are my disciples, Vaccha, or two or three or four or five hundred, but many more than that.”“If the worthy Gotama was the only one to succeed in this teaching, not any monks,“If the worthy Gotama was the only one to succeed in this teaching, not any monks,then this spiritual path would be incomplete in that respect.then this spiritual path would be incomplete in that respect.

But because both the worthy Gotama and monks have succeeded in this teaching,But because both the worthy Gotama and monks have succeeded in this teaching,this spiritual path is complete in that respect.this spiritual path is complete in that respect.If the worthy Gotama and the monks were the only ones to succeed in this teaching, not any nuns …If the worthy Gotama and the monks were the only ones to succeed in this teaching, not any nuns …

chaste laymen …chaste laymen …laymen enjoying sensual pleasures …laymen enjoying sensual pleasures …chaste laywomen …chaste laywomen …

laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures,laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures,then this spiritual path would be incomplete in that respect.then this spiritual path would be incomplete in that respect.But because Worthy Gotama, monks, nuns, chaste laymen, laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, chaste laywomen, and laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures have all succeeded in this teaching,But because Worthy Gotama, monks, nuns, chaste laymen, laymen enjoying sensual pleasures, chaste laywomen, and laywomen enjoying sensual pleasures have all succeeded in this teaching,

this spiritual path is complete in that respect.this spiritual path is complete in that respect.Just as the Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines toward the ocean, and keeps pressing into the ocean, in the same way Worthy Gotama’s assembly—with both laypeople and renunciates—slants, slopes, and inclines toward extinguishment, and keeps pressing upon extinguishment.Just as the Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines toward the ocean, and keeps pressing into the ocean, in the same way Worthy Gotama’s assembly—with both laypeople and renunciates—slants, slopes, and inclines toward extinguishment, and keeps pressing upon extinguishment.Excellent, worthy Gotama! …Excellent, worthy Gotama! …

I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.May I receive the going forth, the ordination in the worthy Gotama’s presence?”May I receive the going forth, the ordination in the worthy Gotama’s presence?”“Vaccha, if someone formerly ordained in another sect wishes to take the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training, they must spend four months on probation. When four months have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, they’ll give the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.“Vaccha, if someone formerly ordained in another sect wishes to take the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training, they must spend four months on probation. When four months have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, they’ll give the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.

However, I recognize individual differences in this matter.”However, I recognize individual differences in this matter.”“Sir, if four months probation are required in such a case, I’ll spend four years on probation. When four years have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, let them give me the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.”“Sir, if four months probation are required in such a case, I’ll spend four years on probation. When four years have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, let them give me the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.”And the wanderer Vaccha received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.And the wanderer Vaccha received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.

Not long after his ordination, a fortnight later, Venerable Vacchagotta went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,Not long after his ordination, a fortnight later, Venerable Vacchagotta went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,“Sir, I’ve reached as far as possible with the knowledge and understanding of a trainee.“Sir, I’ve reached as far as possible with the knowledge and understanding of a trainee.Please teach me further.”Please teach me further.”

“Well then, Vaccha, further develop two things: serenity and discernment.“Well then, Vaccha, further develop two things: serenity and discernment.When you have further developed these two things, they’ll lead to the penetration of many elements.When you have further developed these two things, they’ll lead to the penetration of many elements.As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:

‘May I wield the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying myself and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity.’‘May I wield the many kinds of psychic power: multiplying myself and becoming one again; materializing and dematerializing; going unobstructed through a wall, a rampart, or a mountain as if through space; diving in and out of the earth as if it were water; walking on water as if it were earth; flying cross-legged through the sky like a bird; touching and stroking with the hand the sun and moon, so mighty and powerful; controlling the body as far as the realm of divinity.’

Whenever you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:Whenever you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:‘With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, may I hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far.’‘With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, may I hear both kinds of sounds, human and heavenly, whether near or far.’As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:

‘May I understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with my mind.‘May I understand the minds of other beings and individuals, having encompassed them with my mind.May I understand mind with greed as “mind with greed”,May I understand mind with greed as “mind with greed”,and mind without greed as “mind without greed”;and mind without greed as “mind without greed”;

mind with hate as “mind with hate”,mind with hate as “mind with hate”,and mind without hate as “mind without hate”;and mind without hate as “mind without hate”;mind with delusion as “mind with delusion”,mind with delusion as “mind with delusion”,

and mind without delusion as “mind without delusion”;and mind without delusion as “mind without delusion”;constricted mind as “constricted mind”,constricted mind as “constricted mind”,and scattered mind as “scattered mind”;and scattered mind as “scattered mind”;

expansive mind as “expansive mind”,expansive mind as “expansive mind”,and unexpansive mind as “unexpansive mind”;and unexpansive mind as “unexpansive mind”;mind that is not supreme as “mind that is not supreme”,mind that is not supreme as “mind that is not supreme”,

and mind that is supreme as “mind that is supreme”;and mind that is supreme as “mind that is supreme”;mind immersed in samādhi as “mind immersed in samādhi”,mind immersed in samādhi as “mind immersed in samādhi”,and mind not immersed in samādhi as “mind not immersed in samādhi”;and mind not immersed in samādhi as “mind not immersed in samādhi”;

freed mind as “freed mind”,freed mind as “freed mind”,and unfreed mind as “unfreed mind”.’and unfreed mind as “unfreed mind”.’As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:

‘May I recollect many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. May I remember: “There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.” May I recollect my many past lives, with features and details.’‘May I recollect many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. May I remember: “There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.” May I recollect my many past lives, with features and details.’

Whenever you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:Whenever you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:‘With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place—and understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds: “These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.” And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. And may I understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.’‘With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place—and understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds: “These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.” And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, may I see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. And may I understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.’

As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:As far as you want, you will be capable of realizing these things, since each and every one is within range:‘May I realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with my own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.’”‘May I realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom, and live having realized it with my own insight in this very life due to the ending of defilements.’”And then Venerable Vacchagotta approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.And then Venerable Vacchagotta approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Then Vacchagotta, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.Then Vacchagotta, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”

And Venerable Vacchagotta became one of the perfected.And Venerable Vacchagotta became one of the perfected.Now at that time several mendicants were going to see the Buddha.Now at that time several mendicants were going to see the Buddha.Vacchagotta saw them coming off in the distance,Vacchagotta saw them coming off in the distance,

went up to them, and said,went up to them, and said,“Hello venerables, where are you going?”“Hello venerables, where are you going?”“Reverend, we are going to see the Buddha.”“Reverend, we are going to see the Buddha.”

“Well then, reverends, in my name please bow with your head to the Buddha’s feet and say:“Well then, reverends, in my name please bow with your head to the Buddha’s feet and say:‘Sir, the mendicant Vacchagotta bows with his head to your feet and says,‘Sir, the mendicant Vacchagotta bows with his head to your feet and says,“I have served the Blessed One! I have served the Holy One!”’”“I have served the Blessed One! I have served the Holy One!”’”

“Yes, reverend,” they replied.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.Then those mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,Then those mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,“Sir, the mendicant Vacchagotta bows with his head to your feet and says:“Sir, the mendicant Vacchagotta bows with his head to your feet and says:

‘I have served the Blessed One! I have served the Holy One!’”‘I have served the Blessed One! I have served the Holy One!’”“I’ve already encompassed Vacchagotta’s mind and understood that“I’ve already encompassed Vacchagotta’s mind and understood thathe has the three knowledges, and is very mighty and powerful.he has the three knowledges, and is very mighty and powerful.

And deities also told me about this.”And deities also told me about this.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.